Mr Driller PC display problem

[lewisit]

i have the original Mr Driller for PC and it looks ugly like this in 640x480 fullscreen:




i also have it for (my long dead) DC and it looked sweet like this in 640x480 fullscreen:




any idea how i can stretch the PC-picture so i can play without that *@%#! squeezed look/the black bars?

this is bugging me for years...

[shmuppyLove]

Honestly I think the top one looks better, the aspect looks more correct i.e. the squares actually look square. On the bottom one, things look stretched.

That being said, it's going to depend a lot on how the game has been programmed. If the pillar-boxing (the black bars on the sides) are part of the game's display, then your options are very limited. If it's just empty space that your graphics hardware or monitor are adding in for some reason, then you may be able to "fix" it. However it's going to depend on what kind of controls your video adapter/driver and monitor provide you.

I'm assuming you have a 4:3 monitor and not a widescreen one, judging from the screen shot (though you've obviously pulled that from somewhere on the web). If so, then your monitor will likely not have any controls for adjusting the aspect ratio. You could use the geometry controls if you're using an analog VGA connection from your PC and just stretch the image manually, but that's clumsy and you'll have to stretch it then shrink it back every time you play. If you're using DVI or HDMI, then you won't be able to do this (digital signals won't allow you to change the display geometry).

Take a look in your graphics driver options to see if there's any kind of display expansion or zooming options. You can sometimes fiddle with scaling options to correct the aspect ratio.

Lastly, check in the software to see if there are any options for adjusting the resolution or aspect ratio. I don't have the game, so I'm not sure of this, but more than likely it's storing it's settings in either an .ini or .cfg file in the program directory, in your Documents & Settings folder, or in the registry somewhere. You might be able to adjust things that aren't exposed in the software itself.

I will reiterate though, simply going by the pics you posted, the one on top is more correct, and the one on bottom is the one that looks stretch and "bad".

[lewisit]

Honestly I think the top one looks better, the aspect looks more correct i.e. the squares actually look square. On the bottom one, things look stretched.

bottom is arcade-perfect though...

That being said, it's going to depend a lot on how the game has been programmed. If the pillar-boxing (the black bars on the sides) are part of the game's display, then your options are very limited. If it's just empty space that your graphics hardware or monitor are adding in for some reason, then you may be able to "fix" it. However it's going to depend on what kind of controls your video adapter/driver and monitor provide you.

the black bars on the side are part of the game's display (in the PC-version)...

I'm assuming you have a 4:3 monitor and not a widescreen one, judging from the screen shot (though you've obviously pulled that from somewhere on the web). If so, then your monitor will likely not have any controls for adjusting the aspect ratio. You could use the geometry controls if you're using an analog VGA connection from your PC and just stretch the image manually, but that's clumsy and you'll have to stretch it then shrink it back every time you play. If you're using DVI or HDMI, then you won't be able to do this (digital signals won't allow you to change the display geometry).

4:3 through DVI here...

i guess i'm outta luck with this... was just hoping someone who owns this game was ever able to "fix" this (for the better or the worse)

[louisg]

Some monitors can stretch the image. You could do that to counter it.

I'm guessing that it works the way it does because the authors wanted to preserve the original graphics (without scaling/blurring/rippling), and the DC/arcade pixel aspect ratio is different from the nearest correct PC one's.

[Obiwanshinobi]

If you are using an LCD monitor, resolutions this low won't look good on it. One more reason to keep a CRT for your old PC games. If you want upscaled, you can play the PSX version emulated.

[lewisit]

If you are using an LCD monitor, resolutions this low won't look good on it. One more reason to keep a CRT for your old PC games.

it's a NEC 21" LCD mounted on the wall (w/ a turnable mount for easy tating) - of cause it's not perfect, but it's good enough for me...

If you want upscaled, you can play the PSX version emulated.

the DC and PC versions both have hi-res 640x480 graphics which afaik the PSX-version lacks...

[Obiwanshinobi]

The PSX version is interlaced hi-res (480i or so), like Tobal 2, Ehrgeiz and iS - internal section. Of course PC emulators will output it prog-scanned.
The coin-op original runs on Namco System 12, thus the PSX port should be very accurate.

[D]

Mr Driller G Arcade pcb has 2 output options 240p or 480i, don´t know about mr Driller 1 tho.